Irma Lee Gaudet

Irma Lee Gaudet, 91, a life-long resident of the Winnie-Stowell area, went to be with the Lord on Friday, February 7, 2020, at Lizete’s Loving Care, Nederland. She was born December 13, 1928, in Port Arthur, to Adelaide Carrier Picou and Talton Joseph Picou.

Irma was the fourth out of sixteen children. She had many names in her 91 years. She was known as, “Sister”, “Irma Lee”, “Aunt Lee”, “Mrs. Gaudet”, “Mother”, “Mom”, and “Memaw”, but no matter what name you knew her by, you knew she was a child of Christ. She took pride in being involved at St. Louis Catholic Church, Winnie, where she was the Eucharistic Minister, taught C.C.D., sang in the choir, and was a member of R.C.I.A. and Altar Society. She was always ready and willing to guide the young and those new to Christ as she knew a wealth of information and could quote the bible verse by verse. The bible was her instruction book of life and it served her well. Irma would even bring communion and company to those in the community that couldn’t make it to church. She was never as happy as when she was worshipping her Lord.

Many who knew her had worked with her making and selling riceballs at the St. Louis Catholic Church booth for the Texas Rice Festival, Winnie. For decades, her smiling face was a staple at the church kitchen and riceballs booth. She truly looked forward to seeing everyone in the community at the festival.

She had a way with children and she absolutely adored all children, the smaller the better. Often, she would approach children in public, those she didn’t know from Adam, to get down on their level and speak to them like they had been friends for years. She was always quick to complement their beauty and would give them that little giggle that only she could give.

Irma was born into simpler time, so she saw the beauty and got so much joy from the simple things in life. A walk around the block, sitting and watching the squirrels in the yard, swinging on her back porch, and reading her bible. She enjoyed gardening, especially, growing strawberries. Some of her favorite things to do were bowling and playing card games, like Pinochle and Bridge. She also enjoyed her bean bag toss.

Her beautiful soul will be missed by so many.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude for the compassionate care given by Ms. Lizete Ellis at Lizete’s Loving Care, Nederland. “We feel that she must have her own wings.”

She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Gaudet and his wife, Nancy, of Crosby and John Gaudet, of Liberty; step-daughter, Gail Bertrand, of Winnie; nine grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren and one on the way; sisters, Alicia Courts, of Beaumont; Margie Carter, of Fannett; and Annie Hubbard and her husband, Ira, of Nederland; brothers, Victor Picou, of California; Tommy Picou and his wife, Jan; Tony Picou, all of Fannett; Steve Picou and his wife, Ann, of Arkansas; and Paul Picou and his wife, Donna, of Colorado; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Irma is preceded in death by her parents, Adelaide and Talton Picou; husbands, John Gaudet and Jesse Bertrand; sons, Timothy Allen Gaudet and Terry Wayne Gaudet; sisters, Essie Hidalgo and Theresa Devillier; and brothers, James, Donald, Ray, Clarence, and Gabriel Picou.

A Rosary for Mrs. Gaudet will be recited at 5:00 p.m., with her gathering to follow until 8:00 p.m., at St. Louis Catholic Church, 315 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 10, 2020, at St. Louis Catholic Church, Winnie, with her interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie, under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc., 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, Georgia 30047 or to the website at www.lbda.org.